NEWS
Nigerian Alleged Drug Kingpin, “Dodorima Big Boss” Arrested after 7 Years in Dramatic Bangkok Operation as Police Bust Transnational Syndicate
Metropolitan Police Bureau (MPB) investigators have arrested an alleged head of a Nigerian drug trafficking network in a high-stakes late-night operation in Bangkok, during which the suspect reportedly attempted to ram through a police blockade in a desperate bid to escape.
The dramatic arrest formed part of a coordinated crackdown tagged “Clipping the Wings of the Dodorima Boss,” carried out jointly by officers of the MPB and the Bangkok branch of the Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB), targeting what authorities described as a sophisticated transnational criminal organisation.
The suspect, identified as Ikenna Patrick Azubuike, 36, a Nigerian national, was intercepted and arrested outside a condominium on Rama III Road in Bangkok’s Yannawa district after being tracked by investigators.
Police said Patrick, as he is commonly known, was charged with possession and distribution of a Category 2 narcotic (cocaine) without authorisation, as well as resisting arrest. Authorities also disclosed that further investigations are ongoing, with additional charges, including money laundering, being considered.
During the operation, law enforcement officers reportedly seized cocaine, a vehicle, cash, funds in bank accounts, and other assets valued at more than 700,000 baht.
The arrest follows an expanded investigation that began after an earlier operation on 22, when police investigators, led by MPB deputy commissioner Pol Maj Gen Theeradej Thamsuthee, raided a luxury condominium near Phra Nang Klao Bridge in Nonthaburi. That earlier location was allegedly being used as a base for a romance scam operation, resulting in the arrest of six foreign nationals.
Subsequent intelligence prompted deputy national police chief Pol Gen Samrarn Nuanma to order a wider probe, which reportedly uncovered links between the romance scam syndicate and a cocaine trafficking network operating under a broader criminal structure with over 300 million baht circulating within its system.
Investigators said the drug syndicate operated under the name Dodorima, described as a regional alliance of African criminal elements based in Thailand, believed to be an offshoot of a larger international organisation known as NBM of Africa.
Authorities further revealed that members of the group allegedly attempted to conceal their illicit activities by engaging in public-facing charitable donations and community outreach programmes, a tactic used to build legitimacy and avoid suspicion.
Police identified Patrick as the alleged leader of the Dodorima network in Thailand. He is said to have lived in the country for more than seven years, frequently travelling between Thailand and Africa while building what investigators described as a growing criminal enterprise.
According to law enforcement sources, Patrick initially operated as a street-level cocaine dealer in tourist areas before gradually rising through the ranks to oversee wider distribution channels. Investigators estimate that more than 380 million baht flowed through accounts linked to the network over the past year alone.
Authorities also suspect that significant funds were transferred to Nigeria, where Patrick allegedly financed the construction of a large mansion.
The MPB noted that the investigation was particularly complex due to the suspect’s network of trusted associates and the use of sophisticated financial concealment methods designed to evade detection.
Despite stepping back from direct street-level sales, investigators believe Patrick maintained influence over high-level cocaine distribution, supplying prominent clients through intermediaries. This development ultimately triggered the operation that led to his arrest.
On the night of the arrest, officers tracked Patrick as he drove into a luxury condominium complex on Rama III Road. When police attempted to stop his vehicle using a blockade strategy, he allegedly reversed his car into officers in an effort to escape, injuring several in the process.
Pol Maj Gen Theeradej, who personally led the operation, then ordered officers to smash the vehicle’s windows and disable its engine before taking the suspect into custody.
A search of the vehicle reportedly uncovered about 18 grammes of cocaine. A subsequent search of his condominium unit led to the seizure of cash and additional assets worth approximately 700,000 baht.
Following the arrest, investigators said they uncovered intelligence indicating possible links to a wider transnational criminal network, suggesting the case may extend beyond Thailand and Nigeria.
Authorities also discovered messages in a private group chat allegedly linked to the syndicate, in which members mocked cocaine users in Thailand, including one message stating: “The powder they snort comes from our backsides.”
Patrick has since been transferred to Bang Phongphang police station for further legal proceedings, while seized assets under anti-money laundering regulations have been handed over to the ONCB for detailed financial tracing.
During questioning, Patrick partially admitted involvement in cocaine-related activities but denied any involvement in money laundering. He claimed the group’s operations were tied to charitable donations funded through a fish-export business operating between Thailand and Nigeria.
He also explained that the term “Dodomira” means “hello”.
Pol Maj Gen Theeradej described the arrest as a significant breakthrough in dismantling a powerful transnational syndicate involved in both drug trafficking and financial crimes.
He added that the MPB, in collaboration with the ONCB and international partners, would continue efforts to trace financial flows and apprehend all associated Thai and forei
gn collaborators linked to the organisation.